Assessment of Knowledge and Attitude of PHC Providers Toward Basic Nutrition and Physical Activity Information

Abstract

Objective

To assess the knowledge of PHC providers in PHCC about healthy food, nutrition assessment methods, physical activity and their relation to physical and mental health. Setting: Primary Health Care Centers in four districts in Hillah City.

Methods

Survey using structured, self–administered questionnaire consisting of close-ended questions on knowledge of groups of food and information about description of healthy diet and physical activity was distributed to 110 health workers (58% of them were males and 42% females) during the period from 1st February 2011 to 31st May 2011.

Results

26% of the health workers were trained on nutritional aspects, 54% of them knew the definition of malnutrition and only 19% of them were aware of nutritional assessment methods. Regarding their knowledge about healthy diet, 55% of them had complete information, 72% recognized that fruits and vegetables should be consumed less than 3 times daily and 80.9% knew the meaning of whole grains, while 94% described vegetable oil as the more healthy type and more than half had information on milk and its products (skimmed type as the best). 

Conclusion

It is concluded that the PHC workers have little knowledge regarding nutrition, malnutrition, methods of nutritional assessment and diet. There is a deficiency in knowing the details of physical activity that highlights the importance of and need for more nutritional education to raise their knowledge in this aspect. Health workers, therefore, need more training and workshops. There is a dire need to establish nutritional units in all PHC centers.